Heteropoly acid coated ZnO nanocatalyst for Madhuca indica biodiesel synthesis

Biodiesel is a biodegradable, nontoxic, and clean-burning fuel that can be made from vegetable oils or animal fats by transesterification reaction with short chain alcohols (typically methanol). Heteropoly acid coated ZnO nanocatalyst was prepared by co-precipitation method followed by calcination which was corroborated by transesterification of Madhuca indica oil with methanol. Synthesized nanocatalyst is able to catalyze the transesterification of fatty acids into fatty acid methyl esters conversion above 95% in 5 h. The synthesized biodiesel was analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and proton-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum to estimate the quantification of methyl esters and confirm the products. Heteropoly acid coated ZnO nanocatalyst and recovered catalysts were characterized by using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope techniques.